Article by John CoppinSpurs return after the international break looking to get back to winning ways and brush off a very disappointing home defeat. Quite simply, Spurs are expected to beat teams like Newcastle at home if they are to be considered serious Champions League contenders this season. Home form is vital and so far Spurs have struggled at home and teams that have played deep and sat back have proved very difficult for Spurs to break down. For all the possession it just doesn’t seem like a goal will come and teams seem capable of defending against Spurs at home and soaking up the pressure.
AVB is faced with answering his critics with a performance and he has the chance to see where his team are with the next match away against a very dominant Man City side. This team has simply brushed aside everyone at home this season. Their goals have come easily and they look a very fluent attacking unit at home. Their forwards look full of goals and Arguero at the moment is absolutely on fire. He has scored nearly as many goals as the entire Spurs team in the league. It really could not be a sterner test for AVB as he has to respond to a lot of questions being asked. He can of course point to the fact that Spurs sit one point above City no matter how devastating they have been at home and how many goals they scored. Added to this is the fact that City look a soft touch on their travels and have lost games against opposition they are expected to overcome if they are to live up to their billing as title one of the title favourites. They will be pumped up looking to get back on track after a very poor result.
Spurs are a very strong side away from home and have a fantastic away record. The system AVB has in place is very hard to break down and has brought a lot of points away from home for Spurs. It will be very interesting to see how Spurs cope with the attacking threat of City. This could be a defining moment in the campaign for Spurs and could kick start their season. If you look back to last season when Spurs beat the eventual champions Utd there in Manchester; it ignited their season and the confidence and belief that came from that win was the catalyst to a run that took them to the Champion’s League position right up until the last few games of the season. Results went their way so even though the defeat would be frustrating the teams around Spurs dropped points so the damage could have been worse.
AVB has had some time to look at his system and devise a way forward. He is a great tactician and will be planning to stop the City juggernaut at home. This will all depend of course, on which players return fit after this international break even though everyone is in the same boat; with the crucial games ahead AVB will be hoping he does not have to adjust whatever formation he intended to put out for this huge game. Already it looks like he might be without for a Christian Eriksen as he awaits a scan. The decisions have to be made because Spurs have been goal shy this season and even with a fantastic and formidable defence points need to be put on the board. City score goals at home and to get a result there Spurs have to score because not many teams stop them scoring at home. Will he try and play a more flowing game? Will he stay exactly the same and back his system which has been so efficient away from home to overcome and tame City? Whatever team he puts out, for sure the first name on that sheet must be Sandro. His record speaks for itself and Spurs just look a totally different team when he is on the pitch. The midfield battle for this game is going to be intriguing and if City dominates the middle of the park there can only be one outcome because their forwards are in a rich vein of form at the moment. This game will suit AVB as he can make a statement. He can show and prove like last season away to Utd and that could be pivotal to the way this season unfolds as it was then. The fact that City will come right at Spurs and not sit back will suit AVB.
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AVB is indeed a 'great tactician'.For the first ten games or so, we went out and cleverly gave the impression that we cannot score, Thus all the other teams will abandon the park the bus option when facing us. This is when we shall show our true ability and go on a 15 games winning streak with Soldado and Defoe scoring in every match. By the time the other teams realised they have been taken for a ride, we would have already secured a CL spot and a few more wins plus a few high scoring draws would net us the league title !
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